ARTICLES

Your Estate Plan’s Vital Signs are Stronger with Health Care Directives

Your Estate Plan’s Vital Signs are Stronger with Health Care Directives

Some of the most essential documents to have in your estate plan are your health care directives. These documents provide a framework on how you would like important health care decisions to be made if you’re ever unable to make them for yourself. There are typically three health care directive documents in an estate plan....
Under One Roof – Multigenerational Living

Under One Roof – Multigenerational Living

Over the last 20 years while practicing elder law, our aging adult clients have told us that their primary goal is to maintain their independence and stay in their home.  This desire to “age in place” has been increasing in popularity.  Even before the pandemic, polls were showing a shift to the living trend of...
Just Do It – Ending Estate Planning Procrastination

Just Do It – Ending Estate Planning Procrastination

There are many things in life we need to do but often struggle to complete.  It’s not that these things aren’t important – life just gets in the way sometimes.  One of the important tasks that we tend to put off is completing our estate plan. Reasons for procrastinating There are many reasons people delay...
Year-End Estate Planning Checklist

Year-End Estate Planning Checklist

With new year fast approaching, now is a good time to review your estate plan to make sure it still reflects your values and wishes. The following are important items to reflect on as you create your year-end to-do list. Estate planning checklist Make sure the funding of your revocable trust is complete. This re-titling...
When is Probate Necessary?

When is Probate Necessary?

The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult things to go through in life. After the grief subsides, deciding if the person’s estate must be probated is confusing, time consuming and expensive. Avoiding probate will move the estate distribution much faster to the heirs, so many often wonder if probate is...
Where Do I Store My Legal Documents?

Where Do I Store My Legal Documents?

When thinking about where to store your important legal documents, a lot of people’s first thoughts are, “I’ll put them in my safe deposit box!” Though that is a good place to safely store some items, safe deposit boxes are not usually a good place for your legal documents. Safe deposit boxes are only accessible...
It’s That Time of Year – Medicare Open Enrollment

It’s That Time of Year – Medicare Open Enrollment

Whether you are new to Medicare or have received benefits before, it is important to understand and take advantage of the Open Enrollment period to make changes for your 2022 coverage. If you are already enrolled in Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D and do not want to make any changes...
7 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

7 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

We sometimes view estate planning as a one and done proposition.  Keep in mind, our lives change and so must our plans. If it has been several years or more since you have signed your estate planning documents, then it is possible that the plan won’t achieve your goals.  Periodically reviewing your plan with an...
Estate Planning for Single Adults

Studies have shown that being single in today’s society can have many advantages – more control over your life, ability to spend more time with friends and on activities that you enjoy and you may have more money than your married counterparts. Whether by choice, or as a matter of circumstance, the number of single...